Elchonon Shagalov, a first-time candidate originally from Crown Heights, won a seat on the Bay Harbor Islands Town Council Tuesday night, defeating Gustavo Ortega in a race for a vacant at-large seat on the panel – a notable victory given that Ortega is a seasoned local political figure while Shagalov had never run for office before.

Elections were held on Tuesday for the vacant seat, with 751 residents coming out to vote. Shagalov drew 411 votes to Ortega’s 340, capturing 55% of the vote. He will serve a four-year term under frum Mayor Yitzchak Salver.

Shagalov, 45, works as Chief Commercial Officer for a luxury retail and jewelry company. His campaign focused on preserving Bay Harbor Islands’ small-town character, strengthening public safety, and addressing traffic congestion through collaboration with local and state agencies. He also emphasized walkability and expanding community services for residents.

His opponent, Ortega, 46, a Democrat who has run for multiple offices in recent years, was backed by the Miami-Dade Democratic Party this cycle.

Despite Ortega’s greater political experience, the two candidates shared several policy positions, both running on platforms of resident safety, quality of life, and preserving the character of the small community.

Bay Harbor Islands is a municipality of about 6,000 residents spanning two islands between Surfside and North Miami Beach in Miami-Dade County. Council members serve four-year terms and are paid a $1 yearly salary – the same rate as when the town was incorporated in 1947.